The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has claimed that more than 1,500 trees have been registered on its ‘virtual forest’ website since it was launched in January.
It was set up as part of the authority’s plan to make the region carbon neutral by 2041, and enables organisations, businesses and residents to register any trees they have planted.
The website, which is currently in beta, includes a registration function and a map to see where they are growing. On 12 March it indicated that 1,661 trees had been planted.
Its creation has been accompanied by the launch of tree planting programmes and plans for a national part in the region.
Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, said: “With communities starting to see the impacts of climate change, more and more people are becoming aware of the need to make changes that preserve and enhance our environment.
“There is a lot of good work happening across the region on growing our green spaces, and we hope this website will help to highlight this and our work, to try and make the West Midlands one of the greenest places to be in the UK.”
Image: WMCA's head of environment, Jacqueline Homan, helping at tree planting
